1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; establishing a program to provide grants to prevent 
1.3 	wolf-livestock conflict; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. WOLF-LIVESTOCK CONFLICT PREVENTION PROGRAM.
 1.6 	(a) The commissioner of agriculture may award grants to livestock producers to prevent 
1.7 	wolf-livestock conflicts. Livestock producers located in Minnesota are eligible to apply for 
1.8 	reimbursement for the cost of practices to prevent wolf-livestock conflicts. The commissioner 
1.9 	may establish a cap on the amount of grant money that a recipient is eligible to receive 
1.10 	annually.
1.11 	(b) To be eligible for a grant under this section, a livestock producer must raise livestock 
1.12 	within Minnesota's wolf range or on property determined by the commissioner to be affected 
1.13 	by wolf-livestock conflicts.
1.14 	(c) A grant applicant must document a cost-share of 20 percent for activities covered 
1.15 	by a grant under this program.  A grant applicant's cost-share amount may be reduced up to 
1.16 	$2,000 to cover the time and labor costs of wolf-livestock conflict prevention activities.
1.17 	(d) Eligible wolf-livestock conflict prevention activities include but are not limited to:
1.18 	(1) the purchase of guard animals;
1.19 	(2) payment of veterinary costs for guard animals;
1.20 	(3) the installation of wolf barriers, which may include pens, fladry, and fencing necessary 
1.21 	to protect livestock;
2.1 	(4) the installation of wolf-deterring lights and alarms; and
2.2 	(5) the installation of calving or lambing shelters.
2.3 	(e) Eligible grant recipients must:
2.4 	(1) make a good faith effort to avoid wolf-livestock conflicts;
2.5 	(2) make a good faith effort to care for guard animals paid for under this section;
2.6 	(3) retain proper documentation of expenses;
2.7 	(4) report annually to the commissioner on the effectiveness of the nonlethal methods 
2.8 	employed; and
2.9 	(5) allow follow-up evaluations and monitoring by the commissioner.
2.10 	(f) Grant recipients shall continue to be eligible for depredation payments under 
2.11 	Minnesota Statutes, section 3.737.

2.12 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.13 	$225,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $225,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the 
2.14 	general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for wolf-livestock conflict prevention grants 
2.15 	under section 1.